Alternative Treatments for Eating Disorders

Treatments for an eating disorder depend on many factors. The person’s current situation and the specific eating disorder they’re experiencing usually make up the bulk of any doctor-prescribed plan. Your dedication to getting well and your personal history with eating disorders is also important.

In most cases, your doctor will recommend a combination of treatments, including one-on-on or group counseling, and medications. Some people find alternative treatments as a helpful boost to more traditional therapies that their doctor recommends.

Many people with eating disorders find these treatments helpful in improving their condition. Read on to learn what alternative therapies people have used in their recovery journey.

Discuss any alternative therapies you want to try with your health team first. Your doctor can help you assess the benefits and risks. They may also want to supervise your alternative treatments to identify any side effects or potential problems.

Body awareness therapy

This study suggests that basic body awareness therapy is a therapeutic tool. Body awareness therapy is a program that focuses on quality movement awareness. After going through treatment, people with anorexia, bulimia, and unspecified eating disorders reported reduced body and self-awareness. Many of the treatments listed below also help with body awareness.

Yoga

Yoga can help reduce stress levels and lead to clearer thinking. Yoga is a low-impact exercise with slow movements that help people become more ‘in tune’ with their body. One study saw that women reported significantly changes in:

positive feelings and sense of well-being

less self-objectification

more positive body image

fewer poor eating habits

This study was done in comparison to women who did not practice yoga.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine. An acupuncturist inserts fine, sterile needles into specific points in your body. The goal is to improve your overall health. Research shows that incorporating several sessions of acupuncture alongside existing eating disorder treatments can significantly improve:

symptoms of depression

physical health

mental health

sense of control and social support

Some people prefer acupuncture because it’s a drug-free treatment.

Relaxation therapy

Getting a massage may help with improving your personal outlook on life and lead to more positive attitudes towards recovery. Massage therapy can increase levels of serotonin and dopamine. It also decreases levels of depression, anxiety, and stress.

In one study, women with anorexia nervosa received massage therapy twice a week for five weeks. After their sessions, they had:

lower stress hormones

decreases in body dissatisfaction

increased dopamine and norepinephrine levels

There may also be similar benefits from other relaxation therapies such as aromatherapy or meditation. One study found that mindful meditation can:

reduce emotional and binge eating

increase self-acceptance

improve awareness of your body’s hunger cues

help with anxiety, addiction, and pain management

The data for weight loss from this calming practice isn’t consistent. That’s because weight loss is dependent on other factors.

Biofeedback

For some people, seeing the clinical and scientific evidence of their efforts may lead to even more positive outcomes.

In one pilot study, people with various eating disorders found heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback useful.

Results of HRV

Strongly decreased anxiety

47 percent

Somewhat decreased anxiety

35 percent

Neutral

17 percent

HRV biofeedback encourages slow meditative breathing by displaying your heart rate as a wave on a digital display. More evidence may be needed to prove the effectiveness of biofeedback.

Seek out professionals

A doctor, therapist, or other health professionals can help you or someone you know establish new routines. They can also refer other resources and community services for information and support.

If you can’t find the right dietitian, online resources can help with developing a healthy meal plan. A free website, “Ask the Dietitian,” by registered dietitian Joanne Larsen helps build out a healthy meal plan.

Reach out to others

Talking with others who are facing similar situations may help you or someone you know stay motivated. It can also provide a place to turn to if you have questions about the condition or treatment.

Some people find social media outlets as a form of inspiration. It allows them to keep a diary of their experiences so they keep themselves accountable. Journaling online through the right forums can be helpful as well. It lets you reach out to people going through similar challenges and get tips on how to overcome them.

Build your own support through media education

But without the right tools to analyze these media messages, especially content found on social media, people often come to the wrong conclusion. One study found that some women who posted “fitspiration” photos on Instagram — these are images of physically fit bodies with messages of perseverance and persistence — scored higher for:

thinness

bulimia

compulsive exercise

risk of clinical eating disorder

It’s important for anyone who has an eating disorder to education themselves about the pervasive roles that the media and its advertisers play in reinforcing perfect body images. To understand this phenomenon is to become media literate. This is when you learn how to think critically about the images you see and understand that they’re not necessarily realistic.

One review found that information-based, cognitive behavioral, and psycho-educational therapies were least effective for improving body image and eating problems in college students.

But the same review suggested that media literacy can counter those findings. It added that practices to reduce the risk for eating disorders including health education activities are crucial to helping college students develop body-positive images and healthy eating habits.

You can visit Media Smarts for a series of key questions that’ll help you look at media with a critical eye.